Overhead track



W. G. LOWRY OVERHEAD TRACK Sept. 30, 1958 Filed Nov. 16. 1953 2Sheets-Sheet 1 ISnventor 6 1.M. f M m w H =5 2 6 0 5 Q M m fl w a w w 63 a 1 2 5 a n Y E Q LOW/Q) MZBM/ attorney W. G. LOWRY OVERHEAD TRACKSept. 30, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet Filed Nov. 16, 1953 6. [OM/RY hwy(Ittorneg United States Patent OVERHEAD TRACK William G. Lowry,Altadena, Caiif.

Application November 16, 1953, Serial No. 392,089

7 Claims. (Cl. 104-87) This invention relates to an overhead trackconstruction which, while having other uses, is more particularlyadapted as a trackway for a car or cars from which an attendant mayservice light fixtures in or secured to the cliiling or overhead trussesof a factory building or the l e.

The light fixtures above mentioned ordinarily comprise parallel seriesof fluorescent lights designed and arranged to provide suitably uniformlighting and the same are placed above or interspersed with the overheadgirders or trusses of a factory building. Said fixtures, therefore, arespaced above the factory floor so as to suitably clear machines,assembly lines, etc. Servicing such light fixtures from ladders isinconvenient, hazardous and timeconsuming. By providing a car or cagethat may be moved beneath the fixtures and above any machinery in thefactory, a person in said car or cage, with easy facility and withconsiderable save of time, may service said fixtures.

An object of the present invention is to provide a novel overheadtrackway for such cars.

Another object of the invention is to provide an overhead trackway ofserpentine form with longitudinal portions beneath and paralleling thelight fixtures and with end connecting track portions so that a car,suspended from said trackway, may be moved or propelled longitudinallyalong the fixtures and transversely from one line of fixtures to anadjacent line.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a serpentinetrackway with the longitudinal portions inexpensively formed of cables,with the transverse portions formed of ceiling-suspended structuralmembers, and with novel means interconnecting the adjacent ends of thecables and structural members so that hangers provided on the car maymove easily and safely along the serpentine trackway thus provided.

The invention also has for its objects to provide such means that arepositive in operation, convenient in use, easily installed in a Workingposition and easily disconnected therefrom, economical of manufacture,relatively simple, and of general superiority and serviceability.

The invention also comprises novel details of construction and novelcombinations and arrangements of parts, which will more fully appear inthe course of the following description. However, the drawings merelyshow and the following description merely describes, one'embodiment ofthe present invention, which is given by way of illustration or exampleonly.

In the drawings, like reference characters designate similar parts inthe several views.

Fig. 1 is a broken plan view of a portion of a trackway according to thepresent invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view thereof.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged plan view of the portion of the trackway that ispointed to by the arrows of line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of the trackway portion shown in Fig.3.

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Fig. 5 is an elevational view as seen from the right of Fig. 4 andshowing a fragment of a car in suspended position.

Fig. 6 is a further enlarged fragmentary side view of a structuraldetail of the trackway.

Fig. 7 is a side elevational view of one of several hangers used tosupport the cable portions of the trackway.

Fig. 8 is a plan sectional view, to the scale of Fig. 3, as taken online 8-8 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 9 is a plan view of the portion of the trackway that is pointed toby the arrows of line 9-9 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 10 is a side elevational view thereof.

The present trackway construction comprises a series of parallel trackportions 15, track portions 16, at one end, and track portions 17, atthe opposite end, that connect to the ends of portions 15, means 18 thatconnect said portions 15 to the portions 16 and 17, a support structure19 for each track portion 16, means 20 connected to each track portion17 to place the trackway in tension, and a plurality of suspenders 21 tohold the track portions 15 in place.

As can be understood, the building to which the present trackway isapplied may vary in size, form and construction. The same, however,essentially includes a ceiling 22 and at least two opposed side walls 23and 24. The ceiling may be open and comprise spaced girders or trussesthat serve to mount light fixtures or any other part or parts thatrequire service and/or periodical inspection. The walls 23 and 24 neednot be continuous and, as shown, may comprise columns 25 and 26,respectively, and may include members 27 and 28 connecting the columns25 and 26, respectively.

Each track portion 15 comprises a length of cable 29 or any comparablelight elongated element that is capable of withstanding considerableforce applied in tension.

Each track portion 16 preferably comprises a length of angle-sectionedtrack 30 that has curved ends 31 connected by a straight portion 32 andterminating in short straight portions 33 that are parallel to eachother and normal to the straight portion 32.

Each track portion 17 is preferably similarly formed to have curved ends34, a straight connecting portion 35, and short straight terminatingportions 36.

The above-described forms of track portions 16 and 17 are intended asexemplary since the same may have the portions 31 and 32 or 34 and 35,as the case may be, formed as a continuous arc of semi-circular extent.Regardless of the form of track portions 16 and 17, it is important thatthe vertical flange 37 of one be on the outside of the curyatureof onesaid portion and the vertical flange 38 of the other be on the inside ofthe curvature. While the outer flange 37 is shown on track portion 16and the inner flange 38 on track portion 17, the same may be reversed,as can be understood.

The means 18 is best illustrated in Figs. 3, 4, 6, 9 and 10. As shownbest in Fig. 6, the flange 37, in each straight end 33, is provided witha slot 39 that is disposed at an angle directed from the top downwardand laterally toward the curved portion 31. Thus a portion 40 of flange37 is separated from the main portion although retaining integralitywith track portion 16 through flange 41 of said portion. In order torestore track portion 16 to at least its original strength, plates 42are welded to both faces of flange 37 to span across slot 39. The topedge of flange portion 40 is removed to form a seat 43 that is lowerthan the top edge of flange 37. The amount of material removed dependson the diameter of cable 29 so as to bring the top edge of said cable,when on the seat, into substantial alignment with the top edge of flange37.

By passing the end of cable 29 through slot 39, training said endangularly across the bottom of flange 41,

and employing suitable clips '44 t fix said cable end to flange 41, aconnectionbetween'trackway portions and 16 is effected that iscontinuous. To insure retention of the cable on seat 43, a thin, metalclamp may be used, as best seen in Figs. 3,4 an'd'S'.

The flanges 38 of trackway'porti'ons 17 and" the endsof cables 29 areconnected inthe manner. described above and as shown in Figs. 9 and 10.In this manner, the trackway is provided with a, continuoustrack edgethat comprises the top edges of flanges37and3'8 of'trackportions 16 and17 and thetop edges of the cables 29' that interconnect said portions-inthe-sepentine form above indicated.

Thereason for the respective onter and inner dispositions of flanges37-and-38 willbe clear from inspection-of Fig. 5, wherein isshown'ahanger 46 ofcar 4-7'and'by means of which said car is suspended from theabovedescribed trackway. Said hangentwo of-which may be provided,comprises a generally=C-shaped strap'48 thatis connected to car 47, asby a swivel 49 andsuitable grooved trolley wheels 50 that ride-the abovedesc'ribe'd trackway. The strap 48, being open on one side, can passaround the outside of flange 37 of 'each tr-ack portion 16 and withinthe-inside of flange 38 of each track portion 17 as the car is moved inthe serpentine path defined by the tr-ackway.

The support structure 19 is of rigid form to hold the track portion 16in place. The same comprises a structural rigid strut 51 that connectseach end 33 of track 30 to the ceiling, rod hangers 52 that connectintermediate portions of saidtrack to-the ceiling, rigid struts 53 thattie said structural hangers 51 to the wall 23 or, as shown, to member 27of saidtwall, and-suitable rod braces 54 applied so as to eliminatelateral'sway of track 30. As shown, said braces extend between brackets55 in wall 23 and brackets 56 connected to the ends of struts 53. Saidrod brackets are arranged as the chords of triangular trusses, asbest-seenin Fig. 1.

From the above-described structure, it can be seen that the rigid struts51, connected by brackets 51a to the ends 33 of the track, resistturning moment of said ends under pull of cable 29. The force thusimparted to strut 51 is, in turn, takenrandabsorbed by the horizontaistruts 53 which are connected to struts 51. The struts 51 and 53cooperate toresist turning'mornentto'f the track ends in a verticalplane. The rod braces 54, being connected to brackets 5,6-which, inturn, are connected to struts 53, counteract turning moment of the trackends 33 in a transverse or horizontal plane.

The means 20 connect thetrack portions 17 to wall 24 to place cables 29in tension against the resistance of the rigid support structures19. Asshown in Figs. 9 and 10, said means 20 comprises a tension-applyingmember 57 that includes a turnbuckle 58 and extends between a plate 59welded to each end of track portion 17 and a bracket plate 60 aflixed towall 24. In this case, said plates 60 are welded to wall member 28. Ahanger 61 extends from the ceilingto each end of said track portion 17.

In order to eliminate material sag in cables 29, a suitable number ofsuspenders 21 connects spaced points of the cables 29 to the ceiling. Asshown in Fig. 7, said suspenders may be atfixeddirectly to the ceilingtrusses or, as suggested, in Fig.2, connected to the ceiling bysuspension rods 62sirnilar to rod hangers 52. The cables are connectedto suspenders 21 by means of strap clamps 63 similar to clamps 45.

It will be realized that the above-described trackway is light andinexpensive and-attords. smooth trolleypassing connections where thecables connect to the end track portions so-thatapersonin thecarsuspended from the trackway may readilypropel said car to any desiredposition along the trackway.

While I have illustrated and described what I now contemplate to be the-best'mode .of carrying out my invention, the construction is, ofcourse, subject to modification without departing from the spirit andscope of the invention. It is, therefore, not desired to restrict theinvention to the particular form of construction illustrated anddescribed, but to cover all modifications that may fall Within the scopeof the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim and desire to besecured by LettersPatent is:

1. In a horizontaltrackway, a rigid track member having a verticalflange provided near its end with a slot that slopes downwardly andrearwardly with respect to said flange end to separate the end portionof saidflange ,fromthe main portion'thereof, plate members spanning saidseparate flange portions and enclosing the slot on both sides, a cabletrack member extending from said slot and having its upper surfacealigned with the top edge of said flange, and means to anchor said cableto said rigid track member.

2. In a horizontal trackway, a rigid track. member having a verticalflange provided near its end with a slot that slopes downwardly andrearwardly with respect to said flange end to separate the end'portionof said flange from the main 'portionthereof, plate members spanningsaid separated flange portions and enclosing the slot on both sides,said end portion of the'flange being reduced in height with respecttothe main portion of the flange, the top edge of said end portionconstituting a seat, a cable track member extending from said end flangeportion and'having its uppersurface aligned with the top edge ofysai'dmain flange portion, said cable being engagedwith said seat andextending through said slot, and means tozanchor said cable-to saidrigid track member.

3. In a track-way according tocl'aim 2: a strap clip engaged over theportion of the cable disposed onsaid' flange .endportion to hold thecable against lateral displacement from said-seat.

4. An overhead trackway comprising, in combination, first and secondgroups of supporting columns, a series *of parallel cable track portionseach having first and second ends, rigid and. curved-end track portionshaving ends each connected to one ofthe ends of each of the cable trackportions to impart a serpentine form to said trackway, rigid connectionsbetween the first group of supporting columns and the rigid trackportions at the first ends of the cable-track portions and connectionsbetween the second group of supporting columns, and the rigid, trackportions at the second ends of the cable :track portionsthe-latterconnections including adjustable'links for tensioning said cable trackportions against the. resistance of said first group of supportingcolumns.

5. An overhead trackway comprising, in combination, first and secondgroups of supporting columns, a series of parallel cable track portionseach having first and second ends, rigid and curved track portions eachhaving two ends, one connected to an end of one of the cable trackportions and the other connected to an end ofanother cable track portionwhereby the cable track portions are connected in pairs, each rigid andcurved track portion including .an outer flange in continuation of thecable portions at the first ends thereof, rigid and curved trackportions each having a pair of ends, one connecting the second ,end ofone of the cable portions, and'the other connecting the second end ofanother cable portion, each of the latter rigid track portions includingan inner flange in continuation of the cable track portions at thesecond ends thereof, the rigid track portions of one'group being rigidlymounted upon the first group of columns at the first ends of the cabletrack portions, and adjustable tensioning connections between the secondgroup of columns and the rigid track portions of another group at thesecond ends of the cable trackportions, said tensioning connectionstensioning said cab-1e track portions against theresistance of saidfirst group of'columns.

6. An overhead trackway comprising, in combination, first and secondgroups of supporting columns, a series of parallel cable track portionseach having first and second ends, a set of suspenders to support eachsaid cable portion from above, a first group of rigid and curved trackportions connecting the cable portions at the first ends in pairs andeach including an outer flange in continuation of the first ends of thecable track portions, a second 'group of rigid and curved track portionsconnecting the second ends of the adjacent cable portions, and each ofsaid second group of rigid track portions including an inner flange incontinuation of the second ends of the cable portions, the rigid trackportions of one of said groups at the first ends of the cable trackportions being secured rigidly to the first group of supporting columns,and adjustable connections between the rigid track portions of the othergroup at the second ends of the cable portions and the second group ofcolumns for placing the cable portions connected thereto in tension.

7. In combination with a pair of opposite walls, an overhead trackwayfor connecting said walls, comprising in combination, a plurality ofcable track portions extending transversely between the two Walls, saidcable track portions having first and second ends at the first andsecond walls respectively, first and second groups of rigid and curvedtrack portions complementary to said cable track portions, the firstgroup located adjacent the first wall, and the second group locatedadjacent the second wall, each of the first group of rigid and curvedtrack portions having ends each united to one of the first ends of thecable track portion, and each of the second group of cable trackportions having ends each united to one of the second ends of the cabletrack portions, to provide a continuous and unobstructed trackway, saidrigid and curved track portions of one group being rigidly secured tothe first wall, and the rigid and curved track portions of the othergroup having means securing them to the second wall adjustably inrelation to the spacing from said second wall, said adjustable securingmeans having relatively movable parts connected to the second wall andthe latter rigid and curved track portions, respectively, and alsoserving to transmit tension upon said cable track portions by actingagainst the resistance of the rigidly secured curved track portions whenthe adjustable securing means is being adjusted.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS331,851 Van Depoele Dec. 8, 1885 571,607 Werner Nov. 17, 1896 608,656Drew Aug. 9, 1898 836,260 Hyde Nov. 20, 1906 901,984 Meyer Oct. 27, 1908957,757 Fitzgerald May 10, 1910 1,043,599 Jensen Nov. 5, 1912 1,317,695Franklin Oct. 7, 1919 1,419,684 Neller June 13, 1922 2,193,687 FlinnMar. 12, 1940 2,535,541 Le Fiell Dec. 26, 1950 2,562,406 Barker July 31,1951

